Factory Travel And Tours Operator es COlombia...Tayrona National Park If you only make it to one...

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Colombia: The Strikingly Beautiful Country With Something for Everyone

Lush green coffee plantations along the Andes Mountains, sparkling crystal beaches, and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta—the 18,700 foot, snow-capped mountain which is only 26 miles from the Caribbean Coast.The country is the second most bio-diverse in the world. Located in the north of South America, it has coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, borders the Darien jungle to its west, and the Amazon to its east. With 1,889 species of birds, Colombia is home to

20% of all species on earth. Tucked away in the eastern part of the country is Caño Cristales, the river dubbed a “liquid rainbow.” This river of five colors is one of the country’s many natural gems.

All this gorgeous scenery is a backdrop to one of the best things about Colombia–its warm, accepting people. Happy to share their country with foreigners, the Colombians will welcome you into their communities with music, dancing, interesting local food, and of course festivals. Nearly every city and town has a festival to celebrate some aspect of Colombian life.

There are 195 countries in the world. And while there is no perfect place on this earth, we are all in search of our own personal slice of paradise. At the tip of the continent, Colombia is the gateway to South America. About

the size of the states of California and Texas combined, this country has shed its dark past and is becoming a haven for retirees. The New York Times lists Colombia as #2 out of 52 places to go in 2018.1

1. https://internationalliving.com/countries/colombia/

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;An outsider, and not your own lips.

Salomon, Proverbs 27:2

CARTAGENA3 Walled city

4 Mompox

4 Lost city

5 Barranquilla`s carnival

5 Diving

6 Tayrona`s National Park

CONTENS

BOGOTA7 Gold Museum

7 Montserrat

7 Bike Tour

8 Salt Cathedral

8 Graffiti`s Tour

MEDELLIN9 Flowers festival

9 Jazz festival

10 Botero`s sculpture

10 Arvi Park

10 Guatape

OTHER DESTINATIONS11 Coffe Culture

12 San Andres Island

12 Guajira

13 San Agustin

13 Amazonas & Orinoquia

A beautiful Spanish Colonial walled city with high-end restaurants and plenty of sights, make sure you have enough days to explore Cartagena. Cartagena is not short on sights and getting lost in the old town is perhaps one of the best ways to explore. That said, Plaza Bolivar, the Spanish Inquisition museum and the Convent of San Pedro Claver were three of my favourite sights in Cartagena.1

It’s home to Cartagena

The jewel in Colombia’s crown, Cartagena is one of the most exquisite colonial cities in Latin America. Nestled on the Caribbean coast, its beauty belies an ugly truth: that it was built on gold and slavery.

Still, it remains an exceptional destination; a place where colourful blooms spill from ornate balconies; where lovers watch sunsets from the city walls; where horses and carts clatter through the streets; and flash mobs dance in pretty plazas.2

CARTAGENAThe jewel in Colombia’s crown.

Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281. https://indianajo.com/places-to-visit-in-colombia.ht2. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/south-america/colombia

THE “WALLED CITY” WAS DECLARED A

WORLD HERITAGE SITE BY UNESCO IN 1984.

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There is magic in Mompox

Not only is this sleepy city a place of beauty, with its well-preserved architecture and riverside location, but it was also the inspiration behind Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s magical realism novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, whose wonderful prose haunts its streets.1

Lost city

As Colombia has opened up to tourism in the last decade, so appreciation has grown of the Ciudad Perdida - the Teyuna archaeological site, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Magdalena department in the country’s far north. This “lost city” is believed to have been founded at the start of the ninth century (which makes it about 650 years older than Peru’s ever-feted Inca citadel Machu Picchu). Discussion is ongoing as to whether this terraced settlement, cut into a series of hillsides, was ever truly lost

CARTAGENAMompox and Lost City, the towns that time forgot.

Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/south-america/colombia

- the local Kogui people have said that they were always aware of the site, which was probably abandoned in the wake of the Spanish conquest, having been home to up to 8,000 inhabitants. But it is firmly back on the map as the highlight of a trekking route which takes about a week from A to B and back to A again.1

MOMPOX WAS DECLARED A WORLD HERITAGE SITE BY UNESCO IN 1984 AND LOST

CITY IT WAS DECLARED A BIOSPHERE RESERVE SINCE

1979 BY UNESCO

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It has one of the world’s biggest carnivals

The most important event in Colombia’s calendar, Barranquilla Carnival is one of the biggest of its kind, giving the likes of Rio a run for its money.

CARTAGENASurrounded by wonderful cities and events.

Taking place 40 days before Holy Week, the jamboree sashays on for four intensely hedonistic days, when the streets are filled with parades and parties. The sultry carnival is a big draw for tourists, who are warmly received by locals.

The Carnival of Barranquilla has two designations: Cultural Patrimony of the Nation and Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, titles granted by the Congress of the Republic and by UNESCO.1

The diving is stunning

The Colombian islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina provide access to the third largest coral reef system on Earth, where divers can admire colourful coral gardens, bountiful marine life and even sunken pirate ships. The Rosario Islands also offer excellent diving, just a short boat ride from Cartagena.1


BARRANQUILLA CARNIVAL: WHO LIVES IT, IS WHO ENJOYS IT!NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC,

FEB. 27, 2018

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CARTAGENAThe beaches of a secret paradise.

One of South America’s prettiest national parks

A protected area in Colombia’s northern wilderness, Tayrona National Park has all the attributes you want from the Caribbean – swaying palms, sandy beaches, limpid lagoons and the like – but there’s a rugged beauty about this coastal reserve, which is refreshingly free of development.1

Tayrona National Park

If you only make it to one beach on the mainland of Colombia, make it one of the beaches dotting the coast of Tayrona National Park. Trust me: you won’t regret it.

One of the best thing about Tayrona National Park is that the beaches contained within it require a bit of effort to get to. That keeps tourist numbers relatively low and makes the trails feel a bit like you’re wandering through the wilderness.

There’s a small handful of accommodation within Tayrona National Park and sleeping in one of the hammocks on the rock at Cabo San Juan beach provides some of the best morning views you’ll ever see.2

TAYRONA IT WAS DECLARED BY UNESCO

AS A BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND A WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN THE

YEAR OF 1979

Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/south-america/colombia2. https://indianajo.com/places-to-visit-in-colombia.ht

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Bogota is booming

The capital of Colombia, are exciting times for this resurgent city. New restaurants, boutique hotels and craft breweries are springing up across Bogota, as local entrepreneurs capitalise on the country’s newfound peace. Meanwhile, the city’s tour

BOGOTaArt and culture in the called Athens South American.

Visit the gold museum

If you’re only going to visit one museum in Colombia, make it the gold museum in Bogota. Comprising the largest collection of Pre-Hispanic gold work in the world, not only do you get to see lots of gold (what else?), it’s a great insight into the lifestyle of Colombia’s ancestors.2

Head up Montserrat

You can get there by cable car, or, if you’re on game, take the 1,500 steps (it makes El Peñon, in Guatape – Medellin, look like child’s play).2

There’s a heritage railway

Yes, it’s touristy, as the name suggests, but this heritage railway offers a unique perspective on Bogota and the surrounding countryside. Departing Sabana Station every Saturday and Sunday, the service offers an eye-opening trip through the Colombian capital.1

guides offer edgy sightseeing excursions on bike and foot, which cover everything from architecture to politics.1

BOGOTA IS 2600 METERS CLOSER TO THE

STARS.

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Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/south-america/colombia2. https://indianajo.com/places-to-visit-in-colombia.ht

BOGOTaThe underground land is on the top.

There’s a subterranean salt cathedral

The quiet, colonial city of Zipaquirá, a short drive (or train trip) from Bogota, is home to one of Colombia’s most popular attractions: an underground salt cathedral. Opened in 1954, this church was hewn from the town’s subterranean salt deposits and was traditionally used by miners.1

Day trip to the Salt Cathedral

Don’t laugh, but I didn’t really grasp the concept until I was nearly 200 metres underground that the salt cathedral was actually a cathedral (and not just a cave with light streaming into giving the vision of a cathedra)! As you pass the Stations of the Cross and round the corner into the bigger caverns, the “wow”s just keep on coming.2

The street art is exceptional

Bogota’s decision to decriminalise graffiti in 2011 marked a creative

new epoch for the city, whose flyovers, office blocks and municipal walls became canvases for some of the world’s best-loved street artists.And regular tours bring context to some of the capital’s most famous murals - Bogota Graffiti Tour (bogotagraffiti.com) being an obvious example.1

THE RISK IS THAT AN ARTIST SHOOT A

GRAFFITI

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Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/south-america/colombia2. https://indianajo.com/places-to-visit-in-colombia.html

Medellín, Colombia’s second largest city, hosts Feria de las Flores (flower festival) in August, followed by the International Jazz Festival in September.

And every December they present the most spectacular display of Christmas lights in the world.1

MEDELLiNThe city of eternal spring.

THE PLAZA BOTERO IS A PARK WITH

23 MONUMENTAL SCULPTURES BY

BOTERO

Medellin is on the map

“Hello, welcome to our city,” shouted a passer-by, as I walked through Medellin a couple of years ago. “Thanks for coming.” Such greetings are not uncommon in Colombia’s second city, which until recently was ground zero in the war on drugs.

The memories linger, but Medellin is a city reborn: art, tourism and an impressive new cable car network have helped reverse the fortunes of this rambling metropolis, which, in 2013, was voted the world’s most innovative city.

“Medellin is a delightful place of law-abiding entrepreneurial folk,” wrote Stanley Stewart after a trip this year. “With an economy that is among the fastest growing on the continent, it is one of the great success stories of Latin America.” 2

You’re never far from Botero’s art

The figurative painter and sculptor, Fernando Botero, is famed for his satirical works, which feature oversized subjects in exaggerated form. His sculptures can be found scattered around his hometown, Medellin, where he also has a permanent collection in the Museum of Antioquia.2

Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281. https://internationalliving.com/countries/colombia/2. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/south-america/colombia

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MedellinA paradise among the mountains.

Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281 https://indianajo.com/places-to-visit-in-colombia.ht

Parque Arvi

Located high about the city and reached by two cable cars (one connects to the other), enjoy the peace that finds you as you sail above the city and then over the dense forest of Parque Arvi.1

Guatape

If I had a vision of what Colombia might look like, it was probably Guatape. Bright, bold and beautiful, don’t miss this tiny town just a few hours outside of Medellin.

Before you reach Guatape (if you’re coming on the bus from Medellin), you’ll be tossed off the bus at El Peñon, a huge rock that screams “climb me”.

Even if you’re not into (or are over) climbing, take the 625+ steps to the top for some of the best views you’ll get in all of Colombia. Promise.

Make sure you’ve got plenty of space on your memory card before you get to Guatape because you’re going to need it. There’s no real suggested itinerary for the town other than to wander around and find what you find.1

DISCOVER THE FAUNA, FLORA AND

HISTORY BEHIND THE FLOWER FAIR

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Colombia is one of the world’s top coffee exporters and we ship millions of bags of our finest beans abroad every year.

Colombia’s coffee zone or eje cafetero (Coffee Cultural Landscape) in the center of our country, produces most of our coffee.

cofee cultureMore than culture, it is our passion and pride.

MORE THAN A HALF MILLION FAMILIES

PRODUCE THE BEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD

It spans the coffee growing areas of Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda and the north of Valle.

But the coffee belt doesn’t get all the glory and the flavor of each bean varies according to its origin.

The climate, the food, the people, these are some factors that make the cultural landscape coffee a paradisiacal destination full of culture.

You can enjoy horseback riding, theme parks, valleys, snow and rivers, among others.

Café Bahareque wins the Monde Selection 2018 gold medal, you canvisit a farm where the best coffee in the world is produced

For those who do not know the coffee cultural landscape, not only do Manizales, Quindío and Risaralda understand it; but also the northeastern region of Valle del Cauca, the southwest region of Antioquia and the north-west of Tolima.1

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Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281 https://www.colombia.co/en/trade-with-colombia/exports/colombian-coffee-worlds-favorite/

OTHER DESTINATIONSColombia has more... Sea, desert, jungle.

The second I saw an image of San Andres island in Colombia, I knew I wanted to go. Just off the coast of Nicaragua, some 2 hours by air north of the mainland, San Andres promised a real Caribbean vibe.1

SAN ANDRES island

Palomino is a pretty, coastal escape. Not as humid or densely populated as Cartagena or Santa Marta, it’s a perfect beach spot if you’re looking to get away from it all.1

There are many activities to develop in Palomino, rest is the key, relaxation, but you can also travel

Guajirathousands of eco-tourist routes to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, has extensive beaches facing the Caribbean Sea, the Palomino River that brings its cold and crystalline waters of the thaw of the snowy mountains that merges with the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.2

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Enquires & Reservations:Website: www.factorytravel.com Email: [email protected]éfono in Colombia: +57 316 257 89281. https://indianajo.com/places-to-visit-in-colombia.html2. https://www.las2orillas.co/palomino-el-as-bajo-la-manga-de-la-guajira/


While the likely fate of the Ciudad Perdida has been ascertained, less is known about what happened to the residents of what is now San Agustin Archaeological Park in south-westerly Huila department. It is the setting for a host of statues and sculptures, bearing the faces - partially human, but partially cut with

OTHER DESTINATIONSDiscover all our secrets.

the snarling characteristics of jaguars, snakes and birds of prey - that, historians say, were tomb guardians, designed to protect graves from any who would disturb those who slept within. They may have been carved between the first and fifth centuries, making them contemporaneous with the Roman Empire. But beyond this,

all is guesswork. The skilled hands that created these works belonged to a civilisation that had vanished by the time the Spanish stomped through these highlands - and they left no written record of who they were.Not even a name - an anonymity that makes the idea of heading south to see the carvings all the more alluring.1

SAN AGUSTIN

The Amazon is never far away. The Amazon basin covers almost one-third of Colombia’s territory, and few experiences can beat an excursion into this vast jungle. Boat trips depart from Leticia, in the Amazonas region, to the nearby Amacayu National Park, which abounds with stunning bird life and indigenous tribes.1

AMAZONAS & ORINOQUIA

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www.factorytravel.comEmail: [email protected] - Teléfono en Colombia: +57 316 257 8928

Factory Travel And Tours Operator es COlombia...Tayrona National Park If you only make it to one...

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